Warm top for sitting still during cold evening and morning camps in the Sierras

Sounds like you are in the right ballpark with the L3. I own a micropuff hoody. It is more of a replacement for a fleece; probably not warm enough. I also own a patagonia down sweater which is warmer. Wish it had a hood.

I also have a Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody. Men’s Medium 9.9 oz’s. However, while fine for summer highcountry, I wouldn’t use it past August here, and I also always take a 100wt 1/4-zip fleece.  For nights in the 20’s – 30’s I use a Montbell Alpine Light down jacket. I think the Alpine Light is the best buy out there in a quality, light, down jacket.

Down gives the best warmth to weight ratio by far. I used to carry a good down vest; it’s light, warm and packable. However, I’ve ended by carrying a very warm down jacket and leaving behind one or two other layers to balance out the added weight and pack space. I think this works. so, no fleece or merino wool base layer. Basically this strategy reverses the old ‘dress in layers’ philosophy.

I also hike in the Sierra. It tends to cool quickly. I run cold, so having on a down jacket in camp as the sun is setting isn’t too much for me.

“I think the Alpine Light is the best buy out there in a quality, light, down jacket.”

And if you’re a large, I happen to be selling one in Gear Swap for a lot less than you’re paying for the L3… :-)

My wife and I use Montbell’s “Superior down Parka” for most of our backpacking, for sitting around camp. We also use Montbell “Alpine light Parka” for March, part of April, part of October and November. Then, we bring the Alpine light’s during winter day trips to stay warm when resting, and also as an emergency piece in case of having to spend an unplanned night out.

Thanks everyone, I appreciate you sharing your experiences. So it seems I’m on the right track with (a) a down garment, and (b) a jacket vs a vest.

I’ll hang on to the L3 for now then, and safely ignore the Micro Puff series of garments until I start hiking in damper climates.

When I take my next trip I’ll experiment with what layers I really need under the down jacket. If I can leave either the merino top (a Tracksmith Brighton Base Layer) or the Patagonia R1 hoody at home for future trips, that’d be handy. I’ll also be testing out a quilt (which I’ve yet to buy, but I’m edging towards the Nunatak Ul Arc 20) so I guess that will effect things too, as my camp clothes are also my sleep clothes. I’m not yet sure how warm I’ll sleep in that.

Sort of a tangent, but I find a lot of people seem to forget they also have a sleeping bag/quilt that can be used while sitting in camp when it’s cold. I’ve never carried a very puffy 3 season jacket in the Sierra for this reason.

Dunstan, if you don’t wear the merino top outside of camp–or the R1 hoody–but hike in a shirt and pants: then your warm puffy makes them redundant. I found that I actually saved weight and bulk by leaving just those types of garments at home and instead carrying a very puffy down jacket. the other benefit is, these jackets make really great pillows at night.

I do bring a mid layer that’s lighter than the R1 (a nice piece!) for sleeping and in camp and cold mornings on the trail. If you brought that, you could certainly ditch the merino, which is relatively heavy; or vice versa.

That’s great to hear. I’ll test it all out on my next trip, and probably take too many clothes just to be sure. But hopefully the trip after that will be more informed and see my load lighten a bit.

Wisner! nailed it, we’re all carrying lux down comforters for chilling in camp. Dual use!

All of your solutions are sound. My walking around getup is a Costco down coat ($40 13 oz), buff, and fleece cap. Good into low 40s, then I wear my sleeping bag.

To keep warm in cold Sierra evenings, cover yourself evenly. A balaclava or beanie-and-buff on your head and lightweight fleece gloves on your hands will mean you need less in the way of tops.

Put the Houdini or your rain jacket on. No need for another piece.

I would never use my sleeping bag sitting at camp. It stays safely inside the tent where it is kept clean, dry, and protected from rips/tears. Not to mention making sure no food spills on it (don’t want a sleeping bag with food smells on it in bear country).

I’m with Paul. I’m always bringing a puffy, which one depends on temps. Besides, I’ve saved a cold, sleepless night more than once by having a puffy when the temps dipped much lower than expected.

Yep, what Doug said. Has anyone noticed…there’s lots of dirt outside of your tent. Dirt, Mountain House juice, pine sap and snags on the log you’re sitting on don’t work well with a down bag.

Micro puff is nowhere near warm enough. It’s basically like a light hoodie but wind resistant. For me good for ~50 F with a base layer. I bought the Cerium from Arcteryx and it’s hella nice and feels very warm, but still haven’t had a chance to test it in the 30s. I feel it will do well with my Delta LT. I also got a hood. I have a beanie and I like the versatility of multiple pieces, and a beanie is easier on super long hair like mine, but a hood is just much better for sub 40s I’ve discovered.

Wow, it sounds so brutal! I’m not talking about dragging my sleeping bag through the garden, just embracing its sweet caress while I sip a cup of tea on a rock. No sap, mud, or crud involved. No food, nothing crude…ok I’ll stop now.

Ha! You’d fit right in over in Chaff.

I’m a klutz. I, unfortunately, would be dragging it through the campsite without realizing it, or spilling my food on it, or my drink, etc. I might try to embrace its sweet caress, but it’s a fickle beast, my quilt, it may just fall off my shoulders on purpose to get me back for my malodorous slumber while pinning it against me.

I’m with Paul and Doug, I always bring a puffy that will keep me warm in camp, plus it provides extra sleep insulation just in case. Keep in mind we are often doing chores in camp, not just sitting.

My two main sleeping items are a Western Mountaineering Ultralite and a Nunatak Arc Specialist — both are well over 10 years old, the WM probably 20 — and both are in almost new condition. I am not going to drag a $500+ plus sleeping item around camp or risk an ember burning a hole in it.

This is from an afternoon coffee break a couple weeks ago. The wind was kicking up a little, the temps were dropping, and I was tired. So I whipped out my bag, drank coffee, and napped.

The horror! Look at it…not even in my tent! Not even on a groundsheet! Just out there on a granite slab for all of the world to see! Next to my food no less!

How I have survived this long with these barbaric practices is beyond me….I can only surmise that the barbarism of making due with what I have has made me tough.

Is that a spider I see crawling around on your bag? Gives me the willies….

Goosefeet Gear down jacket. Ben will make it custom to your measurements and preferences. I got a hoodless with 3 oz of 950fp down in roughly a size M and weighs less than 6 oz overall. Very warm, packs small, I’m never looking back.